"billi”s transformation begins

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Bordeaux Airport’s low-cost terminal will be closed for 3 weeks from 7 March.

Extension and modernisation work on Bordeaux Airport’s simplified services terminal gets underway with the launch of this first phase. From Wednesday 7 March, flights normally operating from the Billi terminal will be transferred to Halls A and B.

Easier and faster passenger flows. With just a few weeks to go before the opening of the new easyJet base (with three aircraft to be permanently based in Bordeaux), the first phase of work will see the installation of more efficient new-generation security checkpoints that will reduce queuing time. Passengers will reach their boarding areas more quickly thanks to a 50% increase in performance, with flows of up to 800 passengers per hour.

On an exceptional basis, from 7 March, all easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air flights will be handled in Halls A and B.

Information screens will inform passengers of the changes and invite them to check the dynamic displays in the terminals.

New dimensions for billi. The next phase of work on the billi terminal will take place in 2019, when standalone passenger and luggage check-in points will be installed. This automated system will speed up check-in procedures and make passenger flows even smoother. A subsequent phase will eventually enlarge and improve the entire billi terminal building. The aim is to increase the capacity of the billi terminal so that it can handle nine flights simultaneously, compared to six today.

Global investment plan of €130 million. The Airport Management Company‘s Supervisory Board approved the investment plan in 2017, committing the airport to an ambitious project roadmap lasting six years. Besides the billi terminal, the first phase of investment was launched in February with refurbishment work on the P2, P1, P Express and car rental car parks. The purpose is to improve traffic flows by improving the infrastructure: new car park entrances, dynamic space-finding visual systems, covered pedestrian areas and new asphalt surfacing.

This vast “self-financed” investment programme will see the renovation of access roads and the area in front of the main airport building in order to accommodate future public transport services.* Eventually, a new boarding pier for international flights will be installed in Hall A (with extra aircraft parking points and departure lounges) and a major new connecting building will be built between Halls A and B.

At the same time, the construction of the future tertiary service hub – 45ème parallèle – will begin in 2018.

* The Technobus (“BHLS”) service between the Pessac-Alouette multimodal terminal and Le Haillan tram terminus in 2019 (), and tram line A at the end of 2021.